SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



267 



Ligusticum scoliciim, L. — Growing by the shore 

 with Mcrtcnsia marilima, Don., both at Vadsil and 

 Tromso. 



Cornus suecica, L. — Very abundant about Vadsu, 

 where it was still in flower. In one spot a long 

 series was gathered illustrating the gradual rever- 

 sion of the white involucral bracts into leaves, some 

 being only faintly streaked with green, others 

 almost equally divided into white and green 

 halves, and others being green with only faint 

 indications of white. 



Linncca borcalis, Gronot. — Fairly common, both at 

 Vadso and Elvenes. 



Erigeron alpiniis, L. — Meadows about Harstad. 



Gnaphalium norvegicnm, Gun. — On the raised 

 beaches, Vadso. 



Saitssuica alpina, Dc. — Abundant and often very 

 luxurious in swampy places by rivulets at Vadso, 

 Elvenes and Harstad, often growing with Carduus 

 heterophyllus, L. 



Sonchus alpinus, L. — By a stream near Vadso. 



Hieracium alpinum, L. — Not uncommon on hill- 

 sides at Vadso. 



All the four British species of Vacciniunt occurred 

 on the Varanger. V. myrtillus, L., was very abun- 

 dant in fruit at Elvenes, and a stunted form of 

 V. uUginosum, L., fruited freely at Vadso. V. vitis- 

 idoea, L., appeared to be rare in Arctic Norway, 

 though very abundant in the southern parts. V. 

 oxyocciis, L., though not common, occurred in many 

 of the bogs. The fruit was just beginning to ripen, 

 but that of the previous season was often present 

 and still fit to eat. 



Antostaphylos uva-ursi, Spreng. — Not very com- 

 mon ; it occurred in the woods about Elvenes. 

 A. alpina, Spreng. — Abundant in berry in dry open 

 places, as on the raised beaches at Vadso and the 

 mountains above Bodo. 



Andromeda polifolia, L. — Common everywhere in 

 bogs. It was mostly over, but a specimen was 

 gathered in flower near Vadso. A. hypnoides. — • 

 This curious species, which, notwithstanding 

 its specific name, is more like a Club moss 

 than a Hypnum, was fairly common on the 

 Tyven at Hammerfest, but was not noticed else- 

 where. The corolla had unfortunately fallen in all 

 cases. 



Menziesia ccerulea, Sm. — Common on mountain 

 sides in all the places visited in Arctic Norway. A 

 few lingering flowers might be seen in elevated 

 localities. 



Ledum palustre. — Common in the bogs about 

 Elvenes. The underside of the leaves and the 

 stem of this plant are covered with a rust-coloured 

 down, and it has a very pungent smell which is 

 said to keep mosquitoes at bay ; but, as far as my 

 experience went, they entirely ignored it, as they 

 did eucalyptus, or, indeed, any measures taken 

 against them. 



Pyrola roiundifolia, L,— This handsome species 

 was rather common in the bogs near Vadso. Its 

 long curved style and open flowers well distinguish 

 it from its congeners in the field. 



Primula farinosa, L. — Occurred about Vadso, but 

 in seed only, the flowers having long been over. 



Tricntalis europaa, L. — Evidently very common 

 in Arctic Norway early in the season. A consider- 

 able patch was found in flower near Vadso, where 

 a snow-drift had only recently thawed. 



Gentiana nivalis, L. — In a swampy spot near Vadso, 

 G. involucrata. — Vadso and Tromso, in open, sandy 

 places. It is distinguished from G. amarella, L., 

 and G. campestris, L., with both of which it some- 

 times grew, by the absence of the fringing hairs 

 from the throat of the corolla. 



Diapensia lapponica, L. — Common on the raised 

 beaches near Vadso, the Tyven at Hammerfest, 

 and the mountains above Bodo. The flowers were 

 over, but the firm, persistent calyx was very 

 conspicuous. It grows in very exposed places ; 

 but the hard, leathery leaves and the compact 

 habit of the plant enable it to withstand all the 

 vicissitudes of the weather. 



Limosella aquatica, L. — On damp mud at Elvenes 

 with Ramcnculus hyperboreus a.nd Siibularia aquatica. 



Veronica spicata, L. — Stony places by the Pasvik 

 River at Elvenes. 



Bartsia alpina, L. — Common by streams and in 

 marshy places in all the northern localities visited. 



Pcdicularis sceptrum-carolinum, Rudb. — This very 

 handsome species was fairly plentiful in the bogs 

 about Vadso and Elvenes, where it was very 

 conspicuous, the tall spikes of yellow flowers 

 with a purple lip being frequently over three feet 

 high. It is called by the Norwegians " kongsspir," 

 and was named by Rudbeck in honour of Charles II. 

 of Sweden. 



Oxyria rcniformis, Campd. — Common on loose 

 stony banks about Vadso. 



Polygonum viviparum, L. — Very abundant about 

 Vadso, and frequently quite green with the growing 

 viviparous buds. 



Konigia islandica. — This tiny annual occurred 

 both at Vadso and Hammerfest on moist but not 

 boggy ground in fairly extensive patches of a 

 reddish-green colour. 



Empctrum nigrum, L. — Abundant about Vadsii, 

 the streets of which were thickly strewn with it on 

 the occasion of a very sad funeral from a British 

 ship during our stay. 



Betuhi nana, L. — Common in all the places visited 

 in Northern Norway. In one locality near Vadso 

 there was a most interesting series of hybrids 

 between this species and B. alba, L., some par- 

 taking more of one parent and some of the other. 

 The form has been named B. intermedia, but there 

 can be no doubt as to its true origin. 



Sulix hiibacea, L.— Common on the Tyven. A 



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